A cross-sectional study on urogenital schistosomiasis in children; haematuria and proteinuria as diagnostic indicators in an endemic rural area of Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Rapid and accurate diagnosis is necessary for the management of schistosomiasis in endemic areas. OBJECTIVE: To assess the burden of urogenital schistosomiasis and the diagnostic efficiency of morbidity indicators of the disease in an endemic rural community of Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted. Urine samples of 487 pupils were screened microscopically for S. haematobium and tested for haematuria and proteinuria using chemical reagent strips. RESULTS: The prevalence and intensity of infection were 57.1% and 45.0 eggs/10 mL urine respectively. Prevalence of infection in male (54.1%) and female (60.3%) individuals showed no significant variation (P>0.05). However, prevalence of infection was age dependent with those in age groups 3-5 and 12-14 years having the least and highest prevalence of infection respectively (P<0.05). Microhaematuria and proteinuria varied significantly with ages of the pupils with least (14.0, 40.0%) and highest (60.0, 80.0%) prevalence recorded in age groups 3-5 and 15-19 years respectively (P<0.05). Proteinuria showed higher sensitivity (80.3%) compared to microhaematuria (73.3%). CONCLUSION: Schistosomiasis is highly endemic in the study area and the use of microhaematuria and proteinuria for mapping the infected population prior treatment could be adopted.

Study of the location and morphology of the pterion in adult nigerian skulls.

The pterion which marks the union of 4 bones of the cranium is located superior to the zygomatic arch and posterior to the frontozygomatic suture. It is an important neurosurgical landmark for the lateral/pterional approach and has racial differences in both its location and pattern of union of the bones. This study aims to analyze the location and types of pterion in adult Nigerian skulls. Bilateral sides of 37 adult dry skulls were studied. The pterion types were classified; linear distances from the centre of the pterion to the midpoint of the zygomatic arch and to the frontozygomatic suture were measured; these were analyzed for side and gender differences. Sphenoparietal was the most common pterion type (86.1%) followed by frontotemporal (8.3%), stellate (5.6%), and epipteric types (0%). The mean distances from the pterion to the midpoint of zygomatic arch were 39.74 ± 0.505 mm and 37.95 ± 0.657 mm in males and females, respectively, while the distances to the frontozygomatic suture were 31.87 ± 0.642 mm and 30.35 ± 0.836 mm. The vertical position of the pterion was significantly higher in males than females. Bilateral occurrence is statistically insignificant. This information will be of neurosurgical and anthropological importance.

Agenesis of Palmaris Longus Muscle in Selected Population of School Children in Nigeria / Agenesia del Músculo Palmar Largo en una Población Seleccionada de Niños en Edad Escolar de Nigeria

The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of agenesis of palmaris longus muscle tendon among school children in Ogun state, Southwestern Nigeria and also, to verify the symmetry of the agenesis of the muscle in relation to sex. The presence of the palmaris longus muscle tendon was determined in 564 individuals, 285 male and 279 female, with age varying from 2 to 20 years old. Four different tests were used; Schaeffer's test, Thompson's test, Mishra's test 1 and Pushpakumar's "two-finger sign" method. The data obtained were further analyzed statistically and the agenesis of palmaris muscle was found to be 26.7% (unilateral 13.0%; bilateral 13.7%). Prevalence was higher in female (32.3%) than male (21.4%) (P>0.05). Besides, we observed higher agenesis in the left side in female individuals. High prevalence of agenesis of palmaris muscle observed in the study population is similar to other previous reports in Southwestern Nigeria.

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la prevalencia de agenesia del tendón del músculo palmar largo entre niños en periodo escolar del Estado de Ogun, sudoeste de Nigeria, y verificar además, la simetría de la agenesia del músculo en relación al sexo. La presencia del tendón del músculo palmar se determinó en 564 individuos, 285 hombres y 279 mujeres, con edades que variaban entre 2 y 20 años de edad. Se utilizaron cuatro ensayos diferentes; prueba de Schaeffer, prueba de Thompson, prueba de Mishra 1 y método de Pushpakumar "signo de dos dedos". Los datos obtenidos fueron analizados estadísticamente, donde se encontró que la agenesia del músculo palmar fue de 26,7% (13% unilateral; 13,7% bilateral). La mayor prevalencia fue en el sexo femenino (32,3%), siendo hombres (21,4%) (p> 0,05). Además, se observó mayor agenesia derespecto al lado en mujeres. La alta prevalencia de agenesia del músculo palmar largo observada fue similar a la encontrada en informes en el Suroeste de Nigeria.